FEATURES
42
32
DECEMBER 2023
38
48
47
36
36 BAKING ARTISTRY
38 2023 YEAR IN REVIEW
Mell Gamboa’s Pride Threads offers fashions that make a fresh statement
Ryan M. Leach’s 9th annual roundup of the year’s winners and losers.
42 UGLY CHRISTMAS
47 HOLIDAY GENEROSITY
SWEATERS
Local nonprofits rely on support to make a difference throughout the year
Dan Knechtges’ The Ugly Xmas Sweater Musical brings holiday cheer at the Hobby Center
48
44 DAZZLING DELIGHTS
66 WIGGING OUT
Chris Simental-Vargas advocates for equal opportunities in the disability community
Andrea de Gortari’s creations won the Food Network’s ‘Christmas Cookie Challenge’
Drag artist Lucy Paradisco lives the champagne life
DISABILITY RIGHTS
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DEPARTMENTS NEWS & COMMENT 20 NEWS
New House speaker Mike Johnson has a radical vision that would redefine conservatism
26 MONEY SMART 30 SMART HEALTH PRESENTED BY
32 BLACK VOICES
Black queer advocate J Maxey reflects on World AIDS Day and its implications
34 COMMUNITY
Food is a catalyst for transformation at Kinnon Falk’s Kindred Kitchen
51 GIFT GUIDE
New book titles sure to please LGBTQ readers
OUT & ABOUT 8TH ANNUAL GINGERBREAD HOUSE COMPETITION FUNDRAISER
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DAZZLING DELIGHTS
Andrea de Gortari’s creations won the Food Network’s ‘Christmas Cookie Challenge’ Photography by Maricela Varela
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EDITOR’S NOTE
Welcome to our December Holiday Cheer issue! This month, we’re proud to showcase some of the people and things that are sure to bring some extra sparkle to your month. First up, meet our cover star Andrea de Gortari, winner of Season 6 of the Food Network’s Christmas Cookie Challenge. “They absolutely loved me,” de Gortari, who identifies as bisexual, says of the experience. “I think I was just different from your average competitor. I was a fat, queer weirdo with no kids and covered in tattoos.” That works for us! TUTS Artistic Director Dan Knechtges takes us behind the scenes of his new show, The Ugly Xmas Sweater Musical. The story revolves around a uniform company in danger of being bought out, and the employees’ zany plan to save it. Every TUTS perfor-
World AIDS Day, a time to raise mance will be different as the cast awareness about HIV, honor those pulls in members of the audience who are impacted by the virus, to help sketch, design, and even and remember those who have model the results of their ugliest lost their lives in this epidemic, sweater competition. which disproportionately affects Fans of non-ugly clothes will Black men. Ian Haddock shares be happy to meet Mell Gamboa, the inspiring story of J Maxey, a whose Pride Threads offers queer customers clothing that celebrates 21-year-old Black queer man who has been living with HIV since he being true to yourself year round— was a teenager. not just during Pride Month. Food is always an important December is a time for reflecpart of holiday celebrations, but tion on the up-and-down year it can also be a catalyst for transthat’s ending and the shiny new formation. Kindred Kitchen’s one just around the corner. Ryan Kennan Falk uses a food truck Leach has gathered his annual list and catering business to train of things to keep in the new year, young people experiencing and the things best left behind. homelessness for careers in the As we approach the end of the food-service industry. year, many of us are looking for Elsewhere in the ways to help our comVisit our site here: issue, we meet Chris munity. Zach McKenSimental-Vargas, an zie has compiled a list activist on a mission of some local charities to improve the lives of working all year long people living with disto make life a little abilities. There is still brighter for everyone. a lot of work to be done, December 1 is
he explains, and it all begins with more open and honest communication. On a personal note, I’d like to thank each and every one of our advertisers, supporters, and especially you, the reader. I hope OutSmart magazine has brought you inspiration, information, and entertainment throughout 2023, and will continue to do so into the new year. If you’ve found value in our work, please consider supporting local LGBTQ journalism by making a donation to the OutSmart Foundation for Community Media. All of us here at OutSmart wish you a wonderful holiday season and a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2024!
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Brianna Kaleen as Cinderella
QUEER to
THINGS
DO
STAGE
December 5-24
The holiday season gets a burst of magic as Theatre Under the Stars presents Rodgers & Hammerstein’s inspiring and romantic Cinderella, adapted for the stage by Tom Briggs and directed by Eboni Bell Darcy. Inspired by the teleplay starring Brandy and Whitney Houston, this is a glorious and wonder-filled retelling of the timeless tale. On December 14, LGBTQ musical theater fans (and friends) are invited to stick around after the performance for a special Out@TUTS reception featuring light bites, drink specials, and live music hosted by Houston’s own Broadway Beauty, Regina Thorne-DuBois. tinyurl.com/yp5r3m2j
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARO HAGOPIAN
For a weekly roundup of LGBTQ happenings, visit OutSmartMagazine.com
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MELISSA TAYLOR
CINDERELLA
STAGE
December 4 STAGE
December 1
AHF WORLD AIDS DAY JANET JACKSON
Janet Jackson headlines AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s World AIDS Day concert at NRG Arena. tinyurl.com/3x2s3uw6 12
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SANDRA BERNHARD SANDYLAND PRESENTS: STAND WITH TEXAS
Actor, comedian, and storyteller Sandra Bernhard comes to Houston, one of three stops on her Texas mini-tour. Heights Theater. tinyurl.com/26anpbs3
COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY
December 1
December 2
December 5
LEGACY COMMUNITY HEALTH WORLD AIDS DAY
MONTROSE CENTER HOLIDAY BASKET EXTRAVAGANZA
DRAG ME TO CHURCH
Legacy Community Health hosts World AIDS Day at South Beach Houston, featuring performances by Kofi and Tommie Ross, as well as guest speakers, light bites, and giveaways. tinyurl.com/ydm9hre3
Trinity Midtown Episcopal Church presents an evening of holiday folly, jazzy numbers, and delightful comedy benefitting The Montrose Center. KIKI Houston. tinyurl.com/3246vnar
The Montrose Center hosts a holiday basket-building event. Volunteers will pack food baskets for 200 recipients. tinyurl.com/4ztxe63a
COMMUNITY
December 6
HOUSTON’S NEW FACES OF PRIDE SUPPLY DRIVE
Houston’s New Faces of Pride hosts a supply drive benefitting Grace Place and Tony’s Place. Bring warm jackets, blankets, and backpacks for housing-insecure LGBTQ youth. Ripcord Houston. tinyurl.com/yc8py2hf
STAGE
COMMUNITY
December 7
December 8
MAIN STREET THEATER A NIGHT WITH THE PRIDE NIGHT NORMAL ANOMALY Main Street Theater hosts Pride Night, featuring a pre-curtain mixer and post-show Karaoke Cabaret, for their current production, Georgianna and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley. tinyurl.com/tdnkzbsj
Join The Normal Anomaly as they celebrate Black queer excellence with a gala featuring passed hors d’oeuvres, a seated dinner, and entertainment. tinyurl.com/2w43yap8
STAGE
STAGE
December 8
December 9
December 9
OUT AT THE BALLET FOR THE NUTCRACKER
PRIDE CHORUS HOUSTON: RING IT IN!
HOUSTON PRIDE BAND ’TWAS THE NIGHT
STAGE
Don your gay apparel and join a chorus of holiday magic as Pride Chorus Houston serenades you with beloved Christmas carols, heartwarming commemorations of Hanukkah and Solstice, and much more! tinyurl.com/3ck5nfz6
The Houston Ballet hosts a precurtain reception for LGBTQ ballet lovers and friends. Get 25% off select seats when you book online using code OUTBALLET. tinyurl.com/mw75mzbt
STAGE
December 14
OUT@TUTS FOR RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA Enjoy the Theatre Under the Stars production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and stay after the show for Out@TUTS, featuring free bites, drink specials, and live music. tinyurl.com/4z9fe8w2
Embark on a heartwarming holiday journey as the Houston Pride Band presents a concert that promises to light up your holidays with cherished stories and beloved melodies. tinyurl.com/ybmk9cud
COMMUNITY
December 16
GRACE PLACE HAUS OF GINGERBREAD
Join Montrose Grace Place for a festive evening of fierce competition and charity. Compete in a live gingerbread-house decorating contest, or just watch the fun as a spectator. tinyurl.com/2s4yp4xj More Queer Things to Do ➝ OutSmartMagazine.com
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS Voted one of the Best Female Eye Doctor Outsmart Readers' Choice Awards 2023
SAVE the DATES
A
L w
s
A y
QUEERTHINGS to DO
2 3
L O O K
4
B R I G H T
6
5
0 N T H E
9 10 DJ CORE
11
DR. JULIET FARMER
STAGE
January 30–February 11
ON YOUR FEET!
THERAPEUTIC OPTOMETRIST
1806 A.Westheimer Rd. Houston, TX 77098
Theatre Under the Stars presents On Your Feet!, showcasing the music of Emilio and Gloria Estefan. There will be an Out@TUTS reception featuring light bites, drink specials, and live music after the performance on February 8. tinyurl.com/4ct7a468
713.528.2010 Schedule online at
f� DJ CORE
BOUTIQUEEYECARE.COM
STAGE
January 19–February 11
PICTURES FROM HOME
Houston Ballet principal Jessica Collado as Cinderella’s mother in Stanton Welch’s Cinderella.
STAGE
February 2 – March 3
CINDERELLA
If you missed the classic princess tale at TUTS and want to relive the timeless story, Houston Ballet presents Stanton Welch’s rendition of Cinderella that has been described as “more tomboy than princess” and “Tim Burton meets Cirque Du Soleil.” tinyurl.com/3hz2vfkj
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PHOTO BY AMITAVA SARKAR
The Alley Theatre presents Pictures from Home, a deeply intimate and comic portrait of a mother, a father, and their son that explores the question: who gets to depict the family story? There will be an ActOUT reception with cocktails and light bites before the February 1 performance. tinyurl.com/2p9crdc7
IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®
This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY® and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.
(bik-TAR-vee)
MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY
BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including: Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. Your healthcare provider will test you for HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months, and may give you HBV medicine.
BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including: Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section. Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that may have been hidden in your body. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY. Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY. Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat. Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain. The most common side effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%). These are not all the possible side effects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY. You are encouraged to report negative side eff ects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY.
ABOUT BIKTARVY BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 55 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS. Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains: dofetilide rifampin any other medicines to treat HIV-1
BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY Tell your healthcare provider if you: Have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis infection. Have any other health problems. Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY. Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take: Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-thecounter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect each other. Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.
HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food.
GET MORE INFORMATION This is only a brief summary of important information
about BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more. Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5. If you need help paying for your medicine, visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.
BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, and KEEP BEING YOU are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. © 2023 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. US-BVYC-0250 04/23
#1 PRESCRIBED
HIV TREATMENT* *Source: IQVIA NPA Weekly, 04/19/2019 through 01/20/2023.
ELIAS SWITCHED TO BIKTARVY Listen to REAL STORIES being told by REAL VOICES.
No matter where life takes you,
Because HIV doesn’t change who you are. BIKTARVY® is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in certain adults. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.
Ask your healthcare provider if BIKTARVY is right for you.
Person featured takes BIKTARVY and is compensated by Gilead.
Please see Important Facts about BIKTARVY, including important warnings, on the previous page and at BIKTARVY.com.
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SCENE OUT Photos by DALTON DEHART AND CREW
The Sip & Wish Soriee was held at Jared, The Galleria Of Jewelry, Memorial City on November 2, 2023. Pictured are members of Jared Memorial City staff ready to meet your every need.
On November 3, 2023, Allies in Hope presented its Hope for Houston Ball at White Oak Music Hall. Pictured are Rudy Rasmus, Juanita Rasmus, and W. Jeffrey Campbell.
For Corporations Volunteer Day, KPMG and Starbucks joined the Montrose Center Development Team to prepare holiday boxes on November 4, 2023. Pictured are volunteers.
On November 4, 2023, The Prairie has a Rainbow written by R Lee Ingalls was launched at Michael’s Outpost. Pictured are Bob Briddick, Bryant Johnson, Brett Cullum, R Lee Ingalls, Robert Harwood, Brad Shakelford, and Brandon Carroll.
On November 4, 2023, Pride Sports Houston Kickball recognized the 2023 champion Faces Loaded team at Buddy’s Houston. Pictured are members of the team.
On November 5, 2023, “Hitch up Your Stockings for Omega House” event to support Omega House was held at Kiki. Pictured are members of Pride Chorus Houston.
On November 9, 2023, Houston’s New Faces of Pride held its kick-off celebration at Rich’s. Pictured are members of the Houston’s New Faces of Pride Board and members of the Advisory Board.
A Transtastic Art Show fundraiser was held at Frost Town Brewing on November 10, 2023. Pictured are Front Row: Dylan Forbis, Fabian Echavarri, Jessy Lozano, Carlo Garza; Back Row: Lou Weaver, Daron Yanes Perez, Hannah Schaible, Emory Powers, Eden Rose Torres, and Ian Wright.
On November 11, 2023, E.R.S.I.C.S.S. held a benefit show for Combined Arms at KiKi. Pictured are ERSICSS Members along with Special Guest Performers.
The Diana Foundation held its 2023 Country Dinner Weekend at Neon Boots & the Rainbow Lodge on November 11-12, 2023. Pictured are Craig McLemore, Howard M Huffstutler III, Sharon Lord, Michael Kemper, Corbin Young, and Michael Broderick.
Mario Castillo for City Council District H held a fundraiser with special guest Mayor Sylvester Turner at The Ready Room on November 15, 2023. Pictured are Harris County District Clerk Marilyn Burgess, Mario Castillo, Mayor Sylvester Turner, and CM Robert Gallegos.
The Trans Empowerment and Alliance Party & Awards Brunch hosted by the Mahogany Project was held at the Eldorado Ballroom on November 15, 2023 (Pictured are Atlantis Narcisse, Liam Adair, Asher Payne, Bryanna Jenkins, Diamond Stylz, Aria Sa’id, Verniss McFarland, and Dominique Morgan. OutSmartMagazine.com
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NEWS
Mike Johnson’s Radical Vision Challenging Supreme Court precedents and redefining conservatism. By ANDREW KACZYNSKI and CURT DEVINE, CNN
M
ike Johnson, the new speaker of the House, voiced support for revisiting Supreme Court decisions that struck down restrictions on the use of contraception, barred bans on gay sex, and legalized same-sex marriages, according to a CNN review of his prior public statements. On a conservative talk radio show the day the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade in June 2022, Johnson underscored Justice Clarence Thomas’s concurring opinion that the high court should reconsider those other landmark rulings. Johnson defended Thomas’ view, insisting that what Thomas was calling for was “not radical. In fact, it’s the opposite of that.” “There’s been some really bad law made,” he said. “They’ve made a mess of our jurisprudence in this country for the last several decades. And maybe some of that needs to be cleaned up.” When asked about Johnson’s comments, a spokesman for the congressman told CNN that Johnson “views the cases as settled law.” Still, CNN’s review of more than 100 of Johnson’s interviews, speeches, and public commentary paints a picture of his governing ideals: imprisoning doctors who perform abortions after six weeks; the Ten Commandments prominently displayed in public buildings; an elimination of anti-hate-crime laws. “One of the primary purposes of the law in civil government is to restrain evil,” Johnson said on one radio show in 2010. “We have to acknowledge collectively that man is inherently evil and needs to be restrained.” Johnson’s endorsement of Thomas’ opinion, legal experts say, positioned him significantly outside the mainstream. “Speaker Johnson embraces a view that is not only outside of the mainstream but is so radical that even the extremely conservative Supreme Court majority isn’t willing to go there,” said Norm Eisen, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute and a CNN legal analyst. CNN unearthed more than two dozen radio interviews from Johnson’s time as an attorney at the socially conservative legal advocacy group Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), where he litigated and voiced support for what he sometimes described as a battle for the country between the forces of good and evil.
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Mike Johnson, the new Speaker of the House As an attorney at ADF, Johnson repeatedly battled two organizations in his fight to keep religion in the public square: The American Civil Liberties Union, which he called “the most dangerous organization in America,” and Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The groups clashed over prayer in public schools, public displays of nativity scenes, and the right to open public meetings with prayer. Johnson’s rhetoric has tapped into a “persecution complex” for evangelicals as American culture leans increasingly left on social issues, said Ryan Burge, a political scientist at Eastern Illinois University and a Baptist pastor. “They want to feel embattled. They want to fight the culture war,” Burge told CNN. “When he talks about Griswold and Lawrence, evangelicals know that what he really is saying to them is: ‘Our way of life is under attack. Stand firm in our convictions,’” added Burge, referring to the landmark cases that legalized gay sex and contraception use. Johnson served not only as an attorney at ADF but a national spokesman for the organization, making appearances on radio and television where he addressed so-called “right of conscience” cases involving Christian businesses. Discussing a case in New Mexico, where a wedding photography company was found in violation of the state’s anti-discrimination laws for refusing to photograph a same-sex couple’s commitment ceremony, Johnson argued such laws did not recognize a “behavior”
like homosexuality. “There are laws that prohibit discrimination against people for their immutable characteristics, their race and creed and that kind of thing,” Johnson said in a 2009 radio interview. “There’s a difference—and the law has recognized a difference—between that and homosexual behavior. As something that you do, not an immutable characteristic of what you are.” The New Mexico Supreme Court disagreed and ruled against the company. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case. Johnson “doesn’t understand the problem with a government compelling its citizens to follow not just religion, but a particular religion,” said Katherine Lewis Parker, the former legal director for the ACLU of North Carolina, who opposed Johnson in a lawsuit related to prayer at official meetings. In that suit, three residents in Forsyth County, North Carolina, argued local officials had an unconstitutional “practice of sponsoring sectarian prayer” during meetings. Johnson defended the officials and argued that even in Congress, prayers often contain Christian references, which he called a “logical function of the nation’s demographics.” An appeals court ruled against Johnson’s arguments in 2011, though the Supreme Court later ruled in favor of allowing such prayers in a separate case. Homosexuality was a frequent topic for Johnson, which he has called “inherently unnatural” and a “dangerous lifestyle.” In addition to suggesting he hopes the Supreme Court will reverse its decision allowing same-sex marriage, he also wrote in support of Texas’ anti-sodomy laws, which said gay men caught having sex could be fined. “It recognized a fundamental right, a constitutional right, to sodomy, which had never been recognized before,” Johnson said at a forum in 2005 on the Supreme Court’s ruling in Lawrence v. Texas—which struck down the ban on gay sex in that state. In 2015, transitioning from ADF to the Louisiana House of Representatives, Johnson sparked national controversy with the “Marriage and Conscience Act.” ➝
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VOTED FINALIST BEST PLUMBERS
The bill aimed to protect individuals objecting to same-sex marriage on religious grounds but faced opposition from Johnson’s hometown editorial board, business leaders, and even Republicans in the state legislature. Following backlash, the bill never reached a vote. In response to the bill’s failure, then-Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal issued a similar executive order. “Apparently, defending religious liberty makes one ‘anti-gay’ now,” Johnson wrote on Facebook amid debate on the bill. Just two years later, Johnson moved from the state legislature to Congress where he’s maintained a 92% rating from the CPAC Center for Legislative Accountability—11% higher than the average Republican in 2022. In Congress, Johnson signed on to some of the toughest anti-abortion bills, such as a 2021 so-called “heartbeat bill,” which would essentially outlaw abortion after six weeks. He has repeatedly called states that allow abortion “pro-death” states. “It is truly an American holocaust,” Johnson said in May 2022. “The reality is that Planned Parenthood and all these big abortion [providers], they set up their clinics in inner cities. They regard these people as easy prey. I mean, it’s true.” In 2022, Johnson introduced a bill that some described as a national version of what critics call Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill. The bill never made it out of committee. For Johnson and those who share his worldview, such policies have spiritual implications not only for individuals but the entire nation, said Philip Gorski, chair of the sociology department at Yale University who has studied Christian nationalism. “There is much more at stake for Johnson and others who come from that conservative Christian subculture,” he said. “There is this view the United States is a Christian nation which has entered into a sacred covenant with God that involves upholding certain standards of Christian morality, and when those standards are violated, when those precepts are broken, it threatens the entire country with divine wrath and all kinds of decline.” The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
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LONG-ACTING PrEP APRETUDE is a prescription medicine used for HIV-1 PrEP to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection in adults and adolescents who weigh at least 77 pounds (at least 35 kg).
Reasons to ask your doctor about APRETUDE APRETUDE is the first and only long-acting, injectable PrEP for reducing the risk of getting HIV-1
It’s an injection given every other month, instead of a pill you take every day
Studied in HIV-1 negative cisgender men, transgender women, and cisgender women at risk of getting HIV-1
APRETUDE is given every other month by a healthcare provider after initiation injections have been given 1 month apart for 2 consecutive months. Stay under a provider’s care while receiving APRETUDE. You must receive it as scheduled. If you will miss a scheduled injection by more than 7 days, call your provider right away.
IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT APRETUDE
MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT APRETUDE (cont'd)
This is only a brief summary of important information about APRETUDE and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your medicine. AP-reh-tood
Before receiving APRETUDE to reduce your risk of getting HIV-1: • You must be HIV-1 negative to start APRETUDE. You must get tested to make sure that you do not already have HIV-1 infection. • Do not receive APRETUDE for HIV-1 PrEP unless you are confirmed to be HIV-1 negative. • Some HIV-1 tests can miss HIV-1 infection in a person who has recently become infected. If you have flu-like symptoms, you could have recently become infected with HIV-1. Tell your healthcare provider if you had a flu-like illness within the last month before starting APRETUDE or at any time while receiving APRETUDE. Symptoms of new HIV-1 infection include: tiredness; joint or muscle aches; sore throat; rash; enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin; fever; headache; vomiting or diarrhea; night sweats. Please see additional Important Facts About APRETUDE at right.
MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT APRETUDE Important information for people who receive APRETUDE to help reduce their risk of getting human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection, also called pre-exposure prophylaxis or “PrEP”:
gram SavingsmayPro pay as little
Learn more at APRETUDE.com
Eligible patients per injection on as a $0 co-pay DE. prescribed APRETU including an Important Warning.
g Important Facts Please see accompanyin
about APRETUDE,
Eligible patients may pay as little as a $0 co-pay per injection on prescribed APRETUDE.
IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT APRETUDE (cont'd) MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT APRETUDE (cont'd) While you are receiving APRETUDE for HIV-1 PrEP: • APRETUDE does not prevent other sexually transmitted infections. Practice safer sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to reduce the risk of getting sexually transmitted infections. • You must stay HIV-1 negative to keep receiving APRETUDE for HIV-1 PrEP. ° Know your HIV-1 status and the HIV-1 status of your partners. ° Ask your partners with HIV-1 if they are taking anti-HIV-1 medicines and have an undetectable viral load. An undetectable viral load is when the amount of virus in the blood is too low to be measured in a lab test. To maintain an undetectable viral load, your partners must keep taking HIV-1 medicine as prescribed. Your risk of getting HIV-1 is lower if your partners with HIV-1 are taking effective treatment. Get ° tested for HIV-1 with each APRETUDE injection or when your healthcare provider tells you. You should not miss any HIV-1 tests. If you become HIV-1 infected and continue receiving APRETUDE because you do not know you are HIV-1 infected, the HIV-1 infection may become harder to treat. ° Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. These infections make it easier for HIV-1 to infect you. If ° you think you were exposed to HIV-1, tell your healthcare provider right away. They may want to do more tests to be sure you are still HIV-1 negative. ° Get information and support to help reduce sexual risk behaviors. ° Do not miss any injections of APRETUDE. Missing injections increases your risk of getting HIV-1 infection. If ° you do become HIV-1 positive, you will need to take other medicines to treat HIV-1. APRETUDE is not approved for treatment of HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and receive only APRETUDE, over time your HIV-1 may become harder to treat.
ABOUT APRETUDE APRETUDE is a prescription medicine used for HIV-1 PrEP to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection in adults and adolescents who weigh at least 77 pounds (at least 35 kg). HIV-1 is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). It is not known if APRETUDE is safe and effective in children younger than 12 years of age or weighing less than 77 pounds (less than 35 kg).
DO NOT RECEIVE APRETUDE IF YOU: • already have HIV-1 infection. If you are HIV-1 positive, you will need to take other medicines to treat HIV-1. APRETUDE is not approved for treatment of HIV-1. • do not know your HIV-1 infection status. You may already be HIV-1 positive. You need to take other medicines to treat HIV-1. APRETUDE can only help reduce your risk of getting HIV-1 infection before you are infected. • are allergic to cabotegravir. • are taking any of the following medicines: carbamazepine; oxcarbazepine; phenobarbital; phenytoin; rifampin; rifapentine.
BEFORE RECEIVING APRETUDE Tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you: • have ever had a skin rash or an allergic reaction to medicines that contain cabotegravir. • have or have had liver problems. • have ever had mental health problems. • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if APRETUDE will harm your unborn baby. APRETUDE can remain in your body for up to 12 months or longer after the last injection. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while receiving APRETUDE.
BEFORE RECEIVING APRETUDE (cont'd) • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if APRETUDE can pass to your baby in your breast milk. Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while receiving APRETUDE. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines may interact with APRETUDE. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of medicines that interact with APRETUDE. Do not start a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to receive APRETUDE with other medicines.
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF APRETUDE APRETUDE may cause serious side effects, including: • Allergic reactions. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop a rash with APRETUDE. Stop receiving APRETUDE and get medical help right away if you develop a rash with any of the following signs or symptoms: fever; generally ill feeling; tiredness; muscle or joint aches; trouble breathing; blisters or sores in mouth; blisters; redness or swelling of the eyes; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue. • Liver problems. Liver problems have happened in people with or without a history of liver problems or other risk factors. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check your liver function. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of the following signs or symptoms of liver problems: your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice); dark or "tea-colored" urine; lightcolored stools (bowel movements); nausea or vomiting; loss of appetite; pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area; itching. • Depression or mood changes. Call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away if you have any of the following symptoms: feeling sad or hopeless; feeling anxious or restless; have thoughts of hurting yourself (suicide) or have tried to hurt yourself. The most common side effects of APRETUDE include: pain, tenderness, hardened mass or lump, swelling, bruising, redness, itching, warmth, loss of sensation at the injection site, abscess, and discoloration; diarrhea; headache; fever; tiredness; sleep problems; nausea; dizziness; passing gas; stomach pain; vomiting; muscle pain; rash; loss of appetite; drowsiness; back pain; upper respiratory infection. These are not all the possible side effects of APRETUDE. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
GET MORE INFORMATION • Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist. • Go to APRETUDE.com or call 1-877-844-8872 where you can also get FDA-approved labeling. December 2021 APR:1PIL Trademark is owned by or licensed to the ViiV Healthcare group of companies. ©2022 ViiV Healthcare or licensor. CBTADVT220018 September 2022 Produced in USA.
MONEY SMART By GRACE YUNG, CFP
Your Year-End Financial To-Do List What to do by the end of the year to keep your finances on track for 2024. As the end of another year quickly approaches, you may find yourself considering New Year’s resolutions or making a list of items you’d like to accomplish before next January 1. One of the most common—and important—year-end to-do items has to do with your finances. So as January 2024 approaches, make sure that you allocate some time to completing key financial tasks for 2023 and preparing to move into the new year with a plan of action and a corresponding timeline. Prepare to Close the Books on 2023 While there is still some time left in the current year, some of your primary financial focus areas should include: • Savings • Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) • Gifting • Tax Loss Harvesting Savings The end of the year is a great time to bulk up your savings. This is the case for both personal accounts and retirement plans— especially as the latter have maximum annual contribution limits that you’ll want to fulfill. In 2023, you may contribute up to $6,500 to a traditional or Roth IRA (or combination thereof) if you are age 49 or younger. If you are age 50 or older, you may make an additional “catch-up” contribution of $1,000 in 2023. You have until April 15, 2024, to make your 2023 IRA contributions. But year-end often brings the “Santa Claus rally” in the stock market. So, if you want to have your funds work for you by catching this rally, now is a good time to fund your IRA if you haven’t already done so for the year. If you participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan like a 401(k), 403(b), or 457 plan, you may contribute up to $22,500 in 2023 if you are age 49 or under, and $30,000 if you are age 50 or over. The deadline for the deferral portion of the participants’ contributions is 26
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December 31, 2023. The employer portion of the contributions, if any, is tax filing deadline plus extensions. So it is important to get the deferral part of the contributions made by year end. This is especially true for self-employed individuals who have Solo K’s, for example. Required Minimum Distributions Required minimum distributions, or RMDs, refer to the minimum amount that you must take out each year from traditional retirement accounts, including: • IRAs • 401(k)s • 403(b)s • SEP IRAs • SIMPLE IRAs In 2023, the age to begin taking RMDs is 73. This age will increase to 75 by the year 2025. The amount you must withdraw is determined based on an IRS formula. If you do not take the required distributions—or if you don’t withdraw the full amount—you will incur an IRS penalty. This penalty is in addition to any taxes that you owe on the distribution. Roth IRAs and retirement plans are not subject to the RMD rules, so the money in these accounts may remain even after you have turned age 73, and continue growing on a tax-free basis. If you inherited an IRA from someone who is not your spouse, the SECURE Act requires that you must fully liquidate the account
within 10 years. This is the case regardless of how old you are, with some exceptions. In this scenario, while you don’t have to make withdrawals each year, by the end of the tenth year, the entire account must be liquidated. This is true for both traditional and Roth IRAs that are inherited by non-spouse beneficiaries. Individuals who inherited funds prior to the SECURE Act, are grandfathered, and you will need to withdraw according to your regular schedule. Gifting To reduce the amount of taxable assets for estate tax purposes, many people gift money to others. You are allowed to give up to $17,000 to an unlimited number of individuals (in 2023) without taxation. If you are married, you and your spouse together may gift up to $34,000. Year-end is a good time to determine who you may wish to give a gift to and to move forward with it. Gifting can provide a win-win scenario for both you as the giver and the recipient(s) of the funds. Tax Loss Harvesting Tax loss harvesting is a strategy where you sell investments at a loss in order to offset the amount of capital gains taxes owed on other profitable investments. Investors can use the proceeds from the sale (i.e., the loss) to purchase a similar asset and maintain balance in the portfolio. ➝
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The amount of capital gains tax that you owe is largely dependent on how long you have held an investment. For instance, long-term capital gains tax rates for investments that are held for one year or longer are 0%, 15%, or 20%, based on your tax filing status and your income. Short-term capital gains tax rates for investments that are held less than one year correspond with ordinary income tax rates. So in 2023, these can range between 10% and 37% (also based on your income and tax-filing status). It is important to note that selling an investment at a loss can disrupt the overall balance and diversification of your portfolio. So, it is critical that you replace the asset that is sold with one that is similar, so as to maintain the proper asset mix, including the risk and return levels. As an example, if you sell an ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) or mutual fund that tracks certain market indexes, such as the S&P 500, you could purchase another one that also bases its return on similar indexes. With that in mind, the primary goal of tax loss harvesting is to have less money going toward taxes and more remaining invested and working for you. Therefore, as the end of the year approaches, make sure that you review any capital gains taxes that you may owe, as well as any investments that could be sold at a loss to help you offset these. Is Your Plan Ready for 2024? With so many “moving parts” in your financial and retirement plan, it can be somewhat overwhelming to keep track of it all. This is particularly the case in the LGBTQ community, where more customized financial strategies may be needed for accomplishing certain savings, tax, and asset-distribution objectives. That’s why it is recommended that you work with a financial planning professional who can help you work towards your goals. Grace S. Yung, CFP ®, is a Certified Financial Planner practitioner with experience in helping LGBTQ individuals, domestic partners, and families plan and manage their finances since 1994. She is the managing director at Midtown Financial Group, LLC, in Houston. Member FINRA / SIPC. For more information, visit: www.midtownfg.com
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SMART HEALTH By DARYL SHORTER MD
Thriving Through December Prioritizing your well-being during the holiday season. It should hardly come as a surprise that each December is marked by increased stress. The anticipation of family gatherings, management of school, work, and social responsibilities, and pressures to conform to unrealistic expectations of the holiday season can absolutely grate on one’s nerves. There are also the demands of shopping, cooking and cleaning, or entertaining, as well as numerous financial and time pressures. With all of these competing demands, it’s not uncommon to find ourselves limping across the finish line in January, just grateful that we have managed to stay in the race. While it may feel elusive, we can cultivate a sense of peace during the holiday season by mindfully focusing on taking care of ourselves, making a plan, and sticking to it. Practice 1: Keep a Budget One of the greatest stressors during the holidays can be financial strain. All good queer folks know that you don’t show up empty-handed to an event, so we purchase items for others (and sometimes ourselves), bring bottles of wine (or seltzer) to parties, and show our love and appreciation through the act of thoughtful gift-giving. It is extremely helpful to make a budget and stick to it. Setting rules for yourself, such as buying gifts for only select individuals like children or immediate family, can help to cut down on holiday spending. Another strategy is to establish expectations with family about gifts so that guilt can be avoided. You can also try something new or creative by making homemade gifts for extended family members and friends. Perhaps your family and loved ones might be open to donating to charities in each other’s names, rather than ordering another gadget from Amazon. Alternatively, a gift exchange where each member draws the name of one other person can help to limit purchases. Pri30
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oritizing personal gifts over expensive gifts is a great way of showing you care without breaking the budget. How else might you adjust your spending, while keeping with a spirit of generosity? By giving some thought to this, keeping to a budget may be much more within reach. Practice 2: Spend Meaningful Time with Others The holiday season may be an ideal time to set aside differences and practice acceptance. While we certainly cannot change others, we can change our expectations of them, allowing people to simply be who they are, with all of their strengths, flaws, and complexities. When we stop trying to change people to fit our idea of who they should be, we free ourselves from the disappointment and anger that can so often negatively impact our relationships. If you anticipate that family interactions may be stressful, keep in mind that taking a break from heavy or tense conversations is extremely helpful in managing challenging emotions. Give yourself permission to take a walk, text or call a friend, or engage in another activity that might bring a moment of calm in the midst of an emotional storm. It’s also okay to take time to yourself and be alone. When managing family, think through everyone’s role in the household. Who are you expected to be, and is this acceptable to you? If not, setting and maintaining boundaries can be a vital part of your holiday self-care practice. Remember, it’s okay to say no to people when you feel you are being pressed outside of
your comfort zone. Another strategy may be to start new family traditions that are less demanding but equally rewarding. Are there any new activities you might like to introduce this holiday season? Community service and volunteering might be one strategy for experiencing something outside of yourself and providing an opportunity for connection with others. Practice 3: Double Up on a Good Self-Care Plan! Perhaps you have been managing your emotional state pretty well over the past months. You’re feeling pretty even-keeled and hoping that the holiday season won’t knock off your shine. If that’s the case, be sure not to abandon the things that have been working for you. If there are self-care activities that have been helpful such as therapy, working out, or engaging with hobbies, then do even more of that over the next few weeks. Make a plan to eat well, including healthful foods, and monitor caffeine intake and its relationship to sleep. Setting a bedtime to ensure adequate sleep quality and hours is an easy way to see fast improvements in overall mood. Are you getting eight hours of sleep a night? What alterations can you make to diet and activity levels that might promote better sleep quality? Note that limiting alcohol and substance use can improve sleep quality as well as help reduce fluctuations in one’s level of depression, anxiety, or other mental-health symptoms.➝ CONTINUED ON PAGE 57
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BLACK VOICES
Navigating the 35th World AIDS Day J Maxey’s journey as a Black queer advocate. By IAN L. HADDOCK
T
his is the 35th year World AIDS Day has been commemorated as a platform to raise awareness about HIV and to honor those who are impacted by the virus, along with those who have lost their lives in this epidemic. Overwhelmingly, the epidemic still disproportionately affects Black and African American gay, bisexual, and other men who sleep with men, who account for 26% of new HIV diagnoses. The Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) plan laid out by the Centers for Disease Control to reduce new HIV transmission by 90% by 2030, focuses on four components: diagnosing those with HIV as early as possible, treating people with HIV rapidly and effectively to reach sustained viral suppression, preventing new HIV cases through proven interventions, and responding to HIV outbreaks quickly to get necessary prevention and treatment to the people who need them. All the advancements in science, including injectable prevention and treatment, have reduced or stabilized other groups. At the same time, young queer people of color are still the most impacted, and the South has most of the HIV burden. J Maxey is a 21-year-old Black queer man who found out he was living with HIV two years ago. Though supported in his journey as a pansexual man and with honest conversation within his social circle about HIV and testing, he waited years after his first sexual encounter before getting tested because of the stigma of how HIV was frowned upon in society. “Everyone tells you to get tested every three months,” he says, “but no one prepares you for the call to come in three to five days later for your results after engaging in sex as a young kid.” He recounts getting that call and heading to the doctor’s office, already realizing that his life would change after the nurse couldn’t give him his results over the phone. As a teenager at the time, he began to think about how his life would change. Questions started flowing through his mind: “Will I find love? Will I ever experience sexual chemistry again? Will my family be upset?” These questions still didn’t
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keep him from finding the peace of mind that came with knowing his status for sure. And that peace of mind is what drives him to share his story about his diagnosis. Two years after finding he was a person living with HIV, Maxey knows that all of the fears he had were of minimal impact on him; between science, support, and confidence, he knows that he has a beautiful life ahead of him. “HIV Positive is a status just like all the other statuses,” he says, “like Black, pansexual, and
man. All those things are parts of me, but I am not just one of those statuses.” Still, all of those intersections often tell a story that is well connected. It is even displayed in the difficulty in commemorating World AIDS Day, ensuring that those most impacted are reached to update their status and/or get connected to prevention and treatment. Though pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)—a regimen taken by HIV-negative persons that, when used
correctly, can reduce the possibility of HIV up to 99%—has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration since 2012, only 9% of PrEP users are Black, while white users make up 69%. The broader effects of prevention and treatment are often clouded with other prevailing priorities, as people who are most impacted by HIV are also impacted by unemployment, discrimination, poverty, and other intersecting issues. With no plan after diagnosis or advocacy beyond getting their result, it is hard to calm the fears and distrust that marginalized people have with health care writ large. Black men, in general, already access health care at disproportionately low rates and have a shorter life expectancy. As we move to the further intersections of marginalization, the effects of accessing healthcare yield even more despair. This phenomenon is explained through the social determinants of health, which are the conditions in society and the environment in which you live that predispose you to specific outcomes. For example, Black gay men have a 1 in 2 chance of contracting HIV in their lifetimes. It is not because Black gay men have more partners or more sex; social determinants of health show that it is because of the societal condi-
“HIV POSITIVE IS A STATUS JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER STATUSES, LIKE BLACK, PANSEXUAL, AND MAN. ALL THOSE THINGS ARE PARTS OF ME, BUT I AM NOT JUST ONE OF THOSE STATUSES.” —J Maxey
tions that predispose them to HIV, including dense sexual networks, community viral load, transportation, education, stress, safety, and possibly other factors. HIV is not inescapable, but will require a multi-pronged approach to combat its effects on our community. Maxey has some peace of mind about how we will get to the end of the new diagnoses of HIV. “Every day as a Black queer man,” he says, “you have a problem, but you have to keep going. Each day is a day you get through, and we have many more ahead, but you will find joy and peace in knowing that the
future is brighter when we work together.” That sentiment is the catalyst to moving forward together, despite obstacles and barriers to the end of the HIV epidemic. The future is bright if we focus on those who are most impacted by the virus. When thinking about himself at 18 years old, prior to his HIV diagnosis, Maxey wishes he had taken more time to think about his actions and less about the fear, homophobia, and stigma society placed on being queer. He now realizes that he needed to consider more the responsibility he had as he explored sex and sexuality. These are the things he hopes other young adults his age will understand. Still, the true hope is in what he will say to himself in ten years, knowing that it is absolutely possible to live a long, healthy life with the likelihood of no new transmission of HIV. “When I am 31,” he says, “I hope to say that I saw, I lived, and I survived. I decided to keep going when I think I didn’t have a reason to, but I know by then I will be sure of and in my purpose.” J Maxey will be a featured speaker at the Night with The Normal Anomaly Gala on December 8 at Ballroom at Tanglewood. Fnd out more about Maxey @jaytheeplayboii.
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COMMUNITY
Nourishing Lives Beyond Hunger Kinnon Falk’s Kindred Kitchen nonprofit uses food as a catalyst for transformation. By ZACH McKENZIE
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ood is more than simply sustenance. A good meal can be a gateway to joy, community, love, peace, and more. For one local nonprofit food program, Kindred Kitchen, food is a path to a brighter future and employment for people experiencing homelessness. Kinnon Falk, the program’s director, leads the initiative and shares how Kindred Kitchen is transforming the Houston food scene and the lives of its employees. Falk worked with the leadership at Grace Place (a local nonprofit that supports young adults of all sexualities who are experiencing homelessness) and Kindred Montrose (a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church where people of all races, genders, gender identities, abilities, sexual orientations, fashion sense, and political leanings are not only welcome, but embraced) to help hatch the idea of Kindred Kitchen back in 2018. “Since then, I’ve been working to develop the program as a volunteer until just recently,” Falk explains. After pursuing a seminary degree in Berkeley, California, Falk decided that pastoral work wasn’t his true calling. “Instead, I wanted to work in the nonprofit world trying to solve problems,” he says. Food was a natural way to ultimately do that for Falk, who has fond memories of growing up in rural Texas where he spent a lot of time on his grandparents’ farm. “They were always cooking things that they raised and grew that you couldn’t find in the stores,” he remembers. “In the summers, I would help them tend their garden and feed the chickens and cows. Every week, we’d drive to the fruit stand in the next town over and they’d always let me try some new fruit I’d never had before.” Falk eventually moved to Austin, where he attended the University of Texas. He credits the city for opening his mind and palette to new cuisines and cultures after years in a conservative small town, raising hogs for his local 4H chapter. “I became a leftist vegetarian in four short years, but I’ve since dropped the vegetarian thing,” he jokes. Ultimately, his cooking is credited to his 34
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Kinnon Falk’s Kindred Kitchen family. “My grandma was a great cook,” he says, “and we always had a big family meal every Sunday. She passed her cooking skills down to my mom, who also loves to cook and try new things. When people ask where I learned to cook, I tell them that I get it from them. I never had any formal culinary training. I’ve always been an adventurous home cook. Since college, I’ve worked several catering and restaurant jobs that have sharpened some of my cooking skills. But I still wouldn’t call myself a professional chef; I’m just someone who is passionate about food and how it can change people’s lives.” After moving to Houston in 2013 with his
family, Falk began serving on the leadership team at Kindred Church. The nonprofit leader explains that discussing community needs with a local nonprofit made his path clear. “We knew that some of the biggest issues in Montrose continued to be youth homelessness. We talked with Grace Place leadership and youth to see if there was an unmet need that still wasn’t being addressed. The overwhelming conclusion was employment,” he observes. While working at Healthcare for the Homeless, Falk got a crash course in youth experiencing homelessness. “Most of them were unemployed due to a lack of experi-
ence, and criminal backgrounds based on crimes associated with homelessness, such as trespassing,” he explains. “Sadly, a huge percentage of youth experiencing homelessness are LGBTQ+. Many wound up on the streets because their families abandoned them when they came out.” Considering that both Grace Place and Kindred Church feature meals as a predominant means of outreach and support, it was a no-brainer that Falk’s employmentbased mission would be food-related. “Kindred Kitchen based our model off of other nationally recognized and successful organizations who use businesses as revenue sources and provide opportunities for hands-on training for participants. While students learn the hard skills of the foodservice industry, they also get classroom time to learn other soft skills crucial for successful employment and independent living,” he says. “During the process of creating Kindred Kitchen (which currently operates as a traveling food truck and catering service) we worked with national food-based nonprofit consultants, local high-profile chefs, and industry experts—as well as homeless services experts—including those who had themselves experienced homelessness. Our mission at Kindred Kitchen,” Falk emphasizes, “is to provide pathways out of poverty for Houston’s young people, using the power of the kitchen and the table to achieve their vision of success.” Falk shares that the program is in its early stages, but momentum has already begun to pick up. “Currently, we are working with a handful of Grace Place youth to do catering and spread the word about our program,” he says. “These individuals are also lending context from their personal experiences that are helping us flesh out the final components we will use in our pilot. Concurrently, we are fundraising and fine-tuning the particulars of the program. We hope to start by drawing students from Grace Place youth, but we don’t plan to restrict our applicants to that pool alone. Anyone interested can contact us via our website for information on how to apply.” As far as skill-building, he explains that being a cook is one thing, but there are other traits to be learned as well. “We want to teach youth to be comfortable making mistakes and learning from feedback, being a part of a team where you support and depend on one another. Those are the things employers want to see,” he states. “Food is just the vehicle we’re using to transfer those skills, which they can then take to any career.”
Kindred Kitchen offers a variety of food menu options appropriate to the events they are hired to cater. Whether it’s a 500-person gala or an intimate gathering, Falk says his team is eager and ready to answer the call. “We want to teach our youth a variety of cooking techniques and cuisines, so we are open to making almost anything. Someone asked if I could do an ice cream sundae bar the other week and I said, ‘Sure! Let me go buy an ice cream maker.’” An important component of the program will be job placement and post-employment case management. “We have a number of local, well-known chefs who are ready to start taking our graduates,” Falk says. “Once our grads are placed, our case managers will work with them and the employers to ensure those placements are a success. If there are any needs for other connections to services or coaching, we want to make that happen so our graduates can stay in those positions and work on their stability and success.”
“KINDRED KITCHEN TRANSFORMS LIVES THROUGH FOOD, OFFERING A PATH FROM HOMELESSNESS TO EMPLOYMENT AND A BRIGHTER FUTURE.” —Kinnon Falk, Director of Kindred Kitchen
Pointing to various events that Kindred Kitchen has catered as big wins for the team, Falk also shares that individuals are seeing exponential success. “Since we don’t have enough steady gigs to keep them full time at this point, our employees are also working other part-time jobs. I was so proud when one of our youth got another kitchen job and she was so excited to tell me how she showed off some of her new industry knowledge. She said she was using kitchen lingo like ‘yes, chef!’ and ‘sharp behind!’ and they were impressed. It warmed my heart to hear that.” Funding is a key piece for the future of Kindred Kitchen’s success, but as Falk explains, the journey is a marathon, not a sprint. “We’re really just getting off the ground at this point. I can’t wait for us to complete our pilot and start
having regular classes throughout the year. I want us to get a foothold in the local funding community so we can fund this project.” While the program makes a profit from catering gigs, they aren’t profitable enough to negate the need for community support. “When you’re teaching, there are still plenty of mistakes made in the kitchen, which eats at our bottom line. But that’s expected in these programs and should be built in,” Falk explains. “We’re always going to need outside support and funding. I want to raise our public profile and make sure there are people in the community who know who we are and what we’re doing. Soon, we’re really going to hit the bricks with fundraising and grant writing. We’ve already had some success, but we’re going to need more support to make this happen.” All of this hard work is being done with one main factor at the forefront of Falk’s mind: “The point of this endeavor is the youth, and having a high-quality successful food business will help the program. While I love our food truck and all of the time I put into remodeling it during the COVID lockdown, we would really like to have a brick-and-mortar operation one day,” he says of his future goals. “Kindred Church has a beautiful, versatile space for a café and is in the heart of Montrose’s restaurant scene. If we can raise the capital funds to get our kitchen up to commercial code, it will be so much easier to run this program. It would also benefit the church and Grace Place.” “Our ultimate goal would not only be to have a full-time café where our students can learn and possibly work at upon graduation, but to offer an LGBTQ+ safe space for Houston. Many cities have cafés or coffee shops that provide a safe and welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ people and offer support and access to affirming resources. While there are many affirming establishments in our city, I think having one with a specific mission of being an affirming safe space would be a huge asset for the community.” Falk will continue to bring other stakeholders and organizations to the table, so to speak, in an effort to increase his program’s impact throughout the city for his employees. “I think Kindred Kitchen has the potential to further the missions of both Grace Place and Kindred, the church. We both want to provide safe, welcoming spaces for vulnerable members of our local community. We want to be organizations that see and understand the problems in our community and come up with creative, holistic solutions.” For more info, visit kindredkitchenmontrose.org or follow along on Instagram at @kindredkitchenmontrose and on Facebook at tinyurl.com/Kindred-Kitchen OutSmartMagazine.com
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COMMUNITY
From Hobby to Hustle Mell Gamboa’s journey in crafting Pride Threads. By CONNOR BEHRENS
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hat started as a COVID-19 pastime for Mell Gamboa has spun into a booming business named Pride Threads, offering LGBTQ customers clothing that celebrates being true to yourself year round—not just during Pride Month. “I remember walking into Target looking for something to wear during Pride Month,” she says. “I ended up picking out this really low quality, bad looking hat and thought to myself, ‘Nobody put any effort into this design. Nobody cared about the quality of this hat.’ It got me thinking: Well, what if I started just designing hats?” Gamboa, who has a background in the food-service industry, found herself with an abundance of free time during the pandemic. She started researching what starting a business would look like, which grew from hats to shirts and more.
“OUR PRIDE DOESN’T GET PUT BACK IN THE CLOSET AFTER PRIDE MONTH. WE ARE WHO WE ARE YEAR ROUND.” —Mell Gamboa “I started sketching little things out on my iPad,” she says. “Mind you, I’m not an artist, but I started with the Houston skyline and then the Texas state outline. I also wanted to have an astronaut holding the Pride flag, and I realized that really didn’t fit on a hat. That kind of snowballed into doing shirts.” Since its inception in 2020, the business has expanded to a full-fledged line of products that represent states across the country, not just Texas. Mell credits the interest in her business to offering customers products that are Pride-friendly, while also being universal 36
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Mell Gamboa
A few of Pride Threads‘ designs enough to wear throughout the year. Her Texas products feature rainbow Houston imagery, such as NASA astronauts and Texas longhorns. “When I started thinking about what I wanted my products to look like, I paid attention to all the Pride merchandise out there,” she says. “It was all of the same thing. It was all just rainbow hearts, rainbow arches—all the same thing. It was all kind of lazy, just slapped on a shirt. I thought to myself, ‘I can do so much more.’ I knew I could offer up better fun designs that people would be proud to wear. Something that isn’t so generic looking. That’s how a lot of the designs have evolved.”
Gamboa suggests to anyone wanting to start their own business that they have to stay consistent and always be ready to learn something new. “I’ve very much just been learning as I go,” she says. “I initially bought my own DTF (direct to garment) printing machine, and I quickly realized I had no clue what I was doing. The cost of maintaining a machine like that alone was unsustainable. There’s been so many learning curves of production, social-media promotion, designs—all that stuff. Right now, I’m working on researching how to add my products on Amazon, which is a huge ordeal in and of itself.” Going forward, Mell plans to continue
producing shirts that showcase Pride in a fashionable yet accessible way. “I want to make sure I create products that are for our community and allies anywhere,” she says. “You don’t have to be from Houston. You don’t have to be from Austin. You can be from another state—any area. I want to do a mix of designs that are for anybody.” The way she sees it, her brand is about showing your pride every day and not forgetting the importance of being proud of who you are. “Our pride doesn’t get put back in the closet after Pride Month,” she says. “We are who we are year round. You know, there’s so much that we are still fighting for. To be able to represent who we are on a daily basis is so important to me. It is so important for us to be able to show our pride every day, because we’re not going anywhere. While I started this merely because I wanted better Pride merchandise, it has really evolved into much more than that. This is about the gay community now, and how I can support and represent them. I love being able to do that.” For more info, visit Pride-threads.com.
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FEATURE
Things To Keep in 2024
and Things to Leave in 2023
And you thought the pandemic was a bad couple of years. 2023 is certainly ending on a very low note with wars in Ukraine and Israel causing so much sadness, death, and hate. It can be hard to see what is going right in the world with all that is going wrong. But hope springs eternal that peace will prevail—if not today, then eventually. And believe it or not, there are a few things in Houston that should bring a smile to your face. (The Astros winning another World Series is not one of them, however.)
By RYAN M. LEACH
Let’s take a moment to focus on my ninth annual list of things to keep in 2024 and leave in 2023. VICTOR CONTRERAS
Blackberri
Things to Keep for 2024 Blackberri, Mistress Isabelle Brooks, and Queen Angelina
Mistress Isabelle Brooks
FRANK XAVIER
Queen Angelina
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Houston is finally getting its flowers as one of the top destinations in the country for drag performers. Those of us who are from here have known this for quite some time, of course. 2023 was an especially bright year for three Houston queens: Mistress Isabelle Brooks, Blackberri, and Queen Angelina. All three of these fabulous artists stepped it up in impressive ways, and the world is thirsting for more. Mistress Isabelle Brooks is probably the most recognizable, having been a top finalist on the most recent season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Known for
her sharp wit, old-school drag, and as many eras as the Taylor Swift tour, Mistress kept us glued to our televisions until the very end. Then the Bearded Beauty of the Bayou City, Blackberri, announced that she would be featured on Season 5 of another notable drag competition, The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula (think Drag Race, but spookier). It was only a matter of time before this bigger-thanlife queen made it to the small screen. And finally, Queen Angelina, the violin-playing virtuoso who can also dance her ass off, became the face of MyGayHouston, where she takes followers with her all over the city. Queen Angelina also stepped into another important role as an activist by speaking out regularly against the Texas drag ban, among other relevant LGBTQ topics.
“Everybody on mute”
We may not have won the World Series, but Houston did win one challenge this summer: Beyoncé’s “Everybody on mute” challenge. The native Houstonian’s Renaissance World Tour finally arrived in the Bayou City on September 23 and 24. Soldout crowds greeted the singer as she gave the gays everything they wanted: costume changes, wind-blown hair-ography, and an album centered on queer culture. But what garnered the most viral attention in this attention-getting tour was the “Everybody on mute” challenge. During each tour stop, Queen Bey would spit out the lyrics to her song “Energy” and when she uttered, “Look around, everybody on mute,” the crowd would go silent. Or at least they were supposed to. Houston understood the assignment, and although both nights went impressively quiet, it was Night 2 that was pronounced the winner of the challenge (although Atlanta might beg to differ).
OutSmart Magazine
True, this may be patting ourselves on the back, but Houston’s LGBTQ magazine hit a major milestone this year when it turned 30 years old! That’s an eternity for high-quality, free, queer publications. OutSmart magazine celebrated this milestone by creating a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm that accepts donations to help it keep reporting about the queer community in the largest city in Texas. Our magazine is a unique and top-notch publication, and here’s hoping that it will soar to new heights in 2024.
Beyoncé
JD Doyle
Mario Castillo
Nick Hellyar
Electing LGBTQ Leaders
Houston City Council may be getting two new gay members as candidates Mario Castillo and Nick Hellyar are sent to runoffs in their respective races for District H and At-Large 2. Castillo almost avoided a runoff altogether when he got nearly 47% of the vote in the November 7 general election. Hellyar came in second in his race against the proudly homophobic Willie Davis. Hopefully both of our candidates will make it across the finish line when the December 9 runoff takes place. Houstonians will also have the opportunity to make a decision between two mayoral candidates with strong ties to the Democratic party and a track record of ardent support for the LGBTQ community. State Senator John Whitmire and Representative Sheila Jackson Lee will have a clash of the political titans as they vie for the top office.
If you don’t know who JD Doyle is, then you aren’t paying attention. He is widely known as queer Houston’s unofficial official historian. His website, jddoylearchives.org, is an unprecedented treasure trove of Houston’s LGBTQ history. This year, he wrote his first memoir, 1981: My Gay American Road Trip, a story he describes as a slice of our pre-AIDS culture. The book cover, which features a retro painting of Doyle from the mustache down, got some viral traction when readers of the book posted photos of themselves in a perspective that made Doyle’s ’80s mustache appear like their own. The story itself is a touching one about a simpler time that was also quite complicated in its own right. The book can be purchased on Amazon, but the LGBTQ history on the website is free for all to enjoy (but maybe throw a donation his way).
Things to Leave in 2023 Bans on Bodily Autonomy
Every two years, the LGBTQ community braces for impact when the Republican-dominated Texas Legislature convenes in Austin. Rather than focusing on things like the failing power grid, the rampant gun violence, or the lack of access to adequate health care for most Texans, they focus on banning gender-affirming care for transgender youth and banning abortion under almost every circumstance. This focus on restricting Texans’ rights to have a say on what happens to their own bodies is antithetical to their disingenuous claims that they are the party of “small government.” When the government is in the exam room with you and your doctor, it doesn’t feel very small. Many parents with trans children have opted to leave the state for friendlier places. And many doctors are following suit, not wanting to risk jail time for doing their jobs.
The HISD Takeover
J.D. Doyle
The State of Texas effectively stripped HISD voters of their right to elect their own Board of Trustees to run the largest school district in Texas when Governor Greg Abbott’s Texas Education Agency took control and selected Superintendent Mike Miles to lead the district. He was not warmly welcomed by many parents and quickly received criticism for his plan to turn libraries into disciplinary holding pens for students. His latest proposal would increase elementary class sizes, extend the school year to begin in early August, and hire uncertified teachers without a waiver. Because, I guess, ➝ OutSmartMagazine.com
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THINGS TO KEEP IN 2024 | CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
burnt-out or unqualified teachers in oversized classrooms is how student success is achieved. Perhaps there wouldn’t be a shortage of teachers if the State of Texas would stop making educators the scapegoats for all of society’s problems.
The Texas Rangers
Congrats to Dallas for finally winning something other than being the most boring city in Texas. The Rangers needed all seven games to best Houston and move on to the least-watched World Series in television history (which they also won). Personally, I blame Senator Ted “Cancun” Cruz, whose presence at Astros home games is a proven curse. If we can’t beat Dallas in 2024, can we at least get rid of Ted Cruz?
Republican Dysfunction
It’s not like they are doing too much to help the LGBTQ community when they are working, but the Republican party can barely keep the lights on, let alone a Speaker of the House. After narrowly avoiding one government shutdown by reaching across the aisle to Democrats, the Republicans then ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy from the post he narrowly won only nine months prior. This effectively shut down
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Congress’s ability to function for several weeks while they played musical chairs with three different nominees before settling on littleknown right-wing extremist Mike Johnson. The not-ready-for-prime-time Speaker has also struggled in getting anything of substance done—not that we necessarily want him to accomplish much of his anti-LGBTQ agenda. How about just the bare minimum request to keep the government running and keep people paid? Is that too much to ask?
Houston as second most LGBTQ-unfriendly city in America
In a study conducted by Clever Real Estate,
Houston ranked second-to-last as the unfriendliest city for LGBTQ people. It trailed behind other low-ranked Texas cities like Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin. This news may come as a surprise to many Houstonians who regard the Montrose neighborhood as among the most famous and vibrant LGBTQ-centric communities in the country. The study, which analyzed the 50 largest cities in the country, dinged Houston for its low number of LGBTQ bars per capita, its low municipal equality score, and its low LGBTQ-affirming healthcare providers, among other criteria. The data doesn’t seem to match reality, however. Houston was the first major city to elect a lesbian mayor and is also home to the oldest LGBTQ political caucus in the South. True, Houston may lack Pride events, but we are making up for it. We now have two Pride organizations that may or may not be at war with each other. Oh well, no place is perfect. Ryan Leach is a frequent contributor to OutSmart magazine. Follow him on Medium at medium.com/@ryan_leach.
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HOLIDAY CHEER
TUTS artistic director Dan Knechtges
The ‘Ugly’ Side of Christmas Dan Knechtges’ The Ugly Xmas Sweater Musical brings holiday cheer at the Hobby Center. By ZACH McKENZIE Photo by RUBEN VELA 42
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The holiday season is here, and Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) is decking the halls, making spirits bright, and gearing up for an ‘O, Ugly Night’! Dan Knechtges, TUTS artistic director, is thrilled to premiere a brand new musical, The Ugly Xmas Sweater Musical, on stage from November 28 to December 24 at the Hobby Center. The Ugly Xmas Sweater Musical is a comedy that will make members of the audience stars of the show. The story is centered around a company at risk of being bought out by an international conglomerate.
PHOTOGRAPHER MELISSA TAYLOR
In order for the employees to save their jobs, they must create the ugliest Christmas sweater ever made. “We describe the show as the sitcom The Office meets Project Runway and RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Knechtges, who co-wrote the musical’s book with Megan Larche Dominick, explains. “It tells the story of Cheryl, who is the HR director of a regalia uniform company. On the eve of their Christmas party, they find out that they’ve been bought by a German conglomerate that’s owned by a woman named Olga, who looks suspiciously like Heidi Klum, and everybody is going to lose their jobs. Cheryl comes up with the idea that the company will come together and make ugly Christmas sweaters to prevent them from losing their jobs.” Knechtges explains that it’s up to the employees to convince Olga that “ugly is beautiful.” “It isn’t just the actors on stage,” he teases. “The audience will also become important characters in the show. The musical can’t move on unless we have audience members helping to sketch, design, model, and vote on what are going to be the ugly Christmas sweaters that get pitched to Olga.” Audience members are warned, Knechtges and Dominick have determined creative ways to select participants from the crowd. “We’ve got ideas on how we’re going to solicit audience members, and it’s all going to happen right in front of everyone’s eyes. Some people will get to sketch, some
will model, and some will walk the runway.” If audience members don’t make it on stage, they’ll still be able to contribute to the magic happening in the theater. “Along the way there are sing-alongs and audience call-andresponse,” Knechtges says. “We take just about every Christmas carol you know, flip it and reverse it. We incorporate traditional carols, and the show ends with a dance party to Christmas carols with an electronic dance music track.” Regarding the source material, Knechtges explains it was a no-brainer for him, as it afforded the artist creative liberty and inspiration. “I think Christmas is the greatest holiday ever. I never get sick of it,” he explains. “I also think while it resonates with people who are religious, it also appeals to a lot of people who are not religious. I wanted to create something that really resonated with the largest group of people possible to reach a wide audience.” “Anytime the holidays happen and you get family together—or forced ‘work families’— polarity and tension ensues.” This flurry of emotion is exactly what inspired Knechtges in directing and choreographing the show. “I like that [combination], especially in a theater piece,” he explains. “And I like that Christmas is at the end of the year and people always look at their life over the past year, which adds drama to any sort of party, gathering, or theater piece. So all of that combined is like when you pull the slot machine lever—cherry, cherry, cherry!” While younger theatergoers may gravitate toward Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinder-
ella, on the TUTS mainstage from December 5 to 24, Knechtges explains that the content in Ugly Xmas Sweater will likely appeal to a more mature crowd. “There’s nothing raunchy, but it’s spoofing office culture. We’re parodying literally every Christmas property out there, like It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, Scrooge, The Santa Clause, Home Alone, and more. It is definitely alternative Christmas programming.” “It is supposed to be an easy night at the theater. If you come with your office pals, you can laugh together if your coworker is chosen to go on stage. Or if you come with your family, you’ll possibly see them on stage, walking the runway,” Knechtges says enthusiastically. “It’s a different show every time, because the main character, the audience, is different every time.” The artistic director explains that his new production is the realization of a dream he’s had since arriving at Theatre Under The Stars, and invites audiences to come enjoy, have fun, and celebrate the holidays together. “I have always been jealous of all of these organizations that have their annual Christmas program, because TUTS did not have that. I’m hopeful that Ugly Xmas Sweater can be that perennial Christmas show that creates new Christmas memories for everybody in Houston.” WHAT: The Ugly Xmas Sweater Musical WHEN: November 28 to December 24 WHERE: The Hobby Center Info: thehobbycenter.org.
The Ugly Xmas Sweater Musical cast members OutSmartMagazine.com
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HOLIDAY CHEER
Baking Artistry Houston baker Andrea de Gortari triumphs on Food Network’s Christmas Cookie Challenge. By JENNY BLOCK | Photo by MARICELA VARELA
W
hen a casting agent reached out to 36-year-old professional baker Andrea de Gortari on Instagram about being on Food Network’s Christmas Cookie Challenge, she figured it was just a scam. “So, I didn’t pay much attention to it,” she says. She answered a week later, and after a little back and forth they asked for her number. After they set up an initial interview, Ms. de Gortari nearly canceled. Imposter syndrome was hitting her hard. But her husband helped her through. “He told me I had nothing to lose and only things to gain out of it, but he would back up my decision no matter what I chose to do,” she says. “They absolutely loved me,” de Gortari,
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who identifies as bisexual, says. “I think I was just different from your average competitor. I was a fat, queer, weirdo with no kids and covered in tattoos. But also, I’m crazy talented, and I absolutely deserved it, and I need to keep saying that out loud.” Before she knew it, she was in. A pastry chef and owner of a home-based bakery in central Houston called The Bake Happening, de Gortari had worked in bakeries and restaurants her entire life before finally going solo in 2020 during the pandemic. “I specialize in custom cakes and decorated cookies,” she says. “I do pop-ups seasonally and also offer themed boxes around the holidays.” She’s lived in Houston her entire life, but spent a lot of her childhood in Mexico City with family over school breaks. She says she feels
lucky to have grown up in Houston, where there are people from so many different cultures and backgrounds. “So we were exposed early on to pastries from all over the world,” de Gortari says. “My family lived in France before they had me, so I was completely obsessed with French pastries growing up.” There was a small Lebanese mom-andpop shop just around the corner from her when she was growing up, where she would go regularly with her family. “Rita, one of the owners, would get so excited to see me,” de Gortari says. “She’d show me the latest pastry she was working on to get my opinions. I was just an awkward high school kid, but it felt really good that my opinion mattered.”
BY KAROLINA CAN PHOTOGRAPHY
The budding chef did not grow up in a baking family, however. “My mother is an amazing cook, but she was always on the more savory side. My older sister wasn’t allowed in the kitchen because she had the habit of setting things on fire. My mother had a catering business for a short while when I was little. She made the most amazing tamales,” she says. Her mother was not blessed in the baking department, though. “I always had such a sweet tooth as a kid,” de Gortari says, “so I yearned for it. I would make cookies and cheesecakes for my family, and in high school I would take over bake sales. I knew I wanted to get into baking pretty early on.” She says watching the Food Network after school was such a huge inspiration for her. “My mother learned how to cook with PBS, and the younger generation had Food Network. My mom also collected Bon Appetit and Martha Stewart magazines, and I would skim through them all the time, just salivating.” De Gortari knew how to follow instructions and had a good general knowledge of how to move around the kitchen, so baking came fairly naturally. “I also loved art, and would paint in my free time. So it’s a nobrainer that my career path went the way it did.” She attended Culinary Institute LeNotre out of high school. “It was a very short six-month program, where we learned everything about pastry in that time. One week of chocolate, one week of bread, one week of entremets.” Her favorite thing about baking, de Gortari says, is the feelings she gets when she tries something for the first time and sees people’s reactions to her food. “Baking brings so many people joy. I remember I had my first Ratatouille moment in culinary school. I think I was done with my work fairly early in the day, and my chef gave me a hand-written recipe.” The recipe was for a simple spice bread,and she made it. “It smelled heavenly coming out of the oven. All the chefs gathered around and were eating it while it was still piping hot,” she says. “They were almost in tears, recalling the times they last had something like that, when their own mothers would bake that same bread. It was just like 30 minutes of back-and-forth storytelling from their childhoods, and I could see the absolute joy on their faces. I was like, ‘Holy shit, I did that!’” Despite the fact that being in the kitchen can mean long, monotonous hours, de Gortari loves it. “It’s hard on your hands, back, and feet, and you’re most likely sweating the whole time, but there’s also so much beauty
TU
Baker Andrea de Gortari’s culinary creations
behind it. I look forward to it every day.” Before the challenge, de Gortari says she would practice any chance she got. “My husband would make up fake challenges, pull random ingredients from the pantry for my ‘secret ingredient’ and start the timer.” Ultimately though, it took a number of phone and Zoom interviews, a mock-up challenge at home, and then a final presentation to the main directors before she was invited onto the show. She says there are so many aspects of baking that inspire her, including shopping at other small businesses for ingredients. “Nothing beats freshly milled cornmeal, locally made cajeta, or seeing what’s fresh at the local farmers market.” She also loves being a part of the baking community. “It is so dang amazing, supportive, and talented. I’m always in awe of my peers.” As for her personal style when it comes to decorating, she says, “I really love mid-century modern mixed with the bold lines of traditional tattoos with a hint of horror. It’s unique, but you see more and more people embracing a similar style, and I absolutely love it!” Being on the Christmas Cookie Challenge, she says, was a complete whirlwind of emo-
tions. “Stressful from being in an unfamiliar environment with a camera shoved in your face while you’re trying not to mess up. Exciting from seeing the most amazing studio completely decked out in Christmas decorations. Exhausting from such a long day of filming and running around the kitchen all day, posing for photos and answering interview questions,” she says. In the end, though, it was all worth it, she says. “All my fellow competitors were so amazing, and we were all feeling the same way. We all just tried to take it all in and enjoy the ride while it lasted.” You can find de Gortari’s goodies at Houston Coffee Community Market at Greenway Coffee Roastery on December 2 from 4 to 7 p.m. and Have A Nice Day Market at Stages Theater on December 16 from 4 to 8 p.m. “I’ll also be dropping a set menu that you can order for pick-up the week before Christmas,” she says. “Following me on Instagram or signing up for notifications through Hotplate are the best way to not miss it!” Follow Andrea de Gortari on Instagram, @the_bake_happening. OutSmartMagazine.com
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Obituary: John Allan (JP) Pace
J
Beloved Houston fundraiser known as JP Gill passed away on Monday, November 20.
ohn Allan Pace, known in our community and across the nation as JP Gill, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 20, 2023, from complications due to an infection. JP was a larger-than-life community figure who lit up a room wherever he went. He loved to be the life of the party and everyone’s best friend. His heart wasn’t large enough to spread the amount of love he felt. JP Gill was his chosen stage name when he performed at fundraisers. He was often seen at fundraising events, donating his time, money, and efforts to raise a dollar at a time to help anyone who was less fortunate and needed help, especially with anyone with HIV. This was a cause that was dear to him. JP was a member of many 501(c)(3) organizations in Houston. He was Emperor XXV of ERSICSS, Vice President of TGRAHouston for 10 years, a member of PWA Holiday Charities, one of the founders of Texas United Charities, a contributor to the Krewe of Olympus, and a supporter of countless others. JP wore many sashes around town when he reigned as a title-holder for multiple different organizations. Not only was he Emperor XXV,
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but he was also the first Mr. Mint Julep, Mr. Lone Star, Mr. Gay Pride, and Mr. Charlie’s of Chicago. JP loved to entertain his audiences with original performances that had everyone laughing and throwing money at the stage. He would do just about anything for a dollar, just to help others. JP is survived by his husband, Tony McClelland Pace; his father Ed Pace; his mother Wanda Pace; his brother Jeff Pace; sister-in-law Alicia Pace; son Hunter Pace; daughter Baylee Wiggins; grandson Reese Wiggins; nephew Wyatt Pace, and many, many John Allan (JP) Pace and Tony McClelland Pace chosen family and friends. JP’s life will be celebrated on December 3 from 2-7 pm at the Tomball VFW Center 14408 Alice Rd., Tomball, TX 77377. At the family’s request, in lieu of flowers or plants, please make a donation in JP’s honor by visiting www.tgra.org to contribute.
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HOLIDAY CHEER
It’s Giving Generosity Local nonprofits rely on support to make a difference this holiday season and throughout the year. By ZACH McKENZIE
The holiday season is in full swing, and there’s no better way to make the Yuletide gay than by showing some love to local LGBTQ nonprofit organizations! Houston has several support systems for the queer community, and if you’re looking for some causes to support this holiday season, we’ve got you covered. Check out the list of organizations below when considering where to donate time or money this year. You may be naughty, but supporting these nonprofits might just land you on Santa’s nice list! MONTROSE GRACE PLACE montrosegraceplace.org Grace Place’s mission is to provide a safe, welcoming environment for vulnerable youth of all sexualities and genders experiencing homelessness, providing nourishment, healthy relationships, and hope for the future. The organization does this through family-style dinners, case management, assistance obtaining identification documents, transportation access, mentorship, enrichment activities, and more. Youth and young adults who visit Grace Place can also access Tracy’s Closet for clothing and hygiene products each week. Learn more about how to support Grace Place, either financially or through donating new or gently-used clothing and/or hygiene products at their site. THE MONTROSE CENTER montrosecenter.org The Montrose Center empowers the community—primarily lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals and their families—to live healthier, more fulfilling lives. The queer hub of Houston works to support the community through social services, senior and youth programming, as well as via a host of LGBTQ-affirming social and civic organizations. THE NORMAL ANOMALY INITIATIVE normalanomaly.org The Normal Anomaly Initiative has a goal of centering Black, queer-plus persons to overcome barriers and end stigma and problematic narratives to actualize a new normal. The or-
Homeless Ministries provides a new, highquality backpack filled with essentials like socks, blankets, underwear, and items that help ensure their participants can survive.
Montrose Grace Place’s Haus of Gingerbread event ganization does this through advocacy, events, education, transportation, and more to meet the needs of Houston’s Black queer community. Additionally, the Normal Anomaly Initiative offers an allyship collective, entrepreneurial workgroups, emergency funeral funding, and HIV testing, as well as courses on living with HIV. PWA HOLIDAY CHARITIES pwaholidaycharities.org PWA Holiday Charities is a caring community organization rooted in and dedicated to Houston and the surrounding area. The organization consists of a small group of dedicated volunteers who strongly believe in showing compassion for everyone living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Their mission statement is to raise funds through donations and charitable events and to distribute 100 percent of those funds for the betterment of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS during the holidays. OPEN GATE HOMELESS MINISTRIES beringopengate.org Open Gate Homeless Ministries works to provide a safe space for Houston’s homeless young adults. The organization accomplishes this through weekly family-style dinners, providing hygiene packs, life skills and empowerment services, and more. A hallmark of the organization is their backpack program. Open Gate
STANDUP FOR KIDS–HOUSTON standupforkids.org/houston StandUp for Kids–Houston runs different programs to support youth who are experiencing homelessness. The organization conducts street outreach in Montrose by reaching out to homeless youth and giving them non-perishable food, clothing, and hygiene products. They also offer their drop-in program, offering a safe place to socialize, enjoy a hot meal, and to pick up basic necessities such as hygiene supplies, clothing, shoes, and food. Among their many other services is their housing support program that provides food and housing supplies to clients who were able to obtain housing. TONY’S PLACE tonysplace.org Tony’s Place is a resource center and community space focusing on LGBTQ youth who are in need of help with safe housing, queer health services, educational support, and more. They offer a safe space that serves as an environment for self expression and respite for youth experiencing homelessness. Their values also include empowerment, dignity, support, and social justice. Tony’s Place provides basic needs, case management, support services, community engagement, and advocacy. ALLIES IN HOPE www.aihhouston.org Previously AIDS Foundation Houston, Allies in Hope has been a community leader for over 40 years with the mission to end the HIV epidemic in the Greater Houston area. The organization encourages everyone to get tested and know their status. Allies in Hope offers free HIV and STI testing that is fast, simple, and completely confidential. To better serve the community, other programs are also available including community housing, a food pantry, case management, and an onsite clinic. OutSmartMagazine.com
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COMMUNITY
Redefining Possibilities Chris Simental-Vargas advocates for equal opportunities in the disabled community. By CONNOR BEHRENS
B
eing wheelchair-bound since birth, Chris Simental-Vargas could easily let his situation take control of his life. Instead, the 32-year-old chooses to remain positive, focusing his efforts on helping those in the disabled community. “Just because someone has a disability, that does not mean they’re not deserving of having what everyone else has,” he says. “People need to listen to us and understand where we’re coming from. We just want what everyone else has.” Vargas was born with a condition called spina bifida, a birth defect in which a person’s spinal cord fails to develop properly, as well as scoliosis, which is a curvature of the spine. Dealing with surgeries and countless hospital visits throughout his childhood, it would be easy to feel depressed and downtrodden. Yet Vargas chooses to rise above any kind of 48
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negativity. “I try to keep positive because I know that, with my condition, the level of injury determines your quality of life,” he says. “Depending on where the level of spine injury is at and the effects of that, I could have easily been affected more severely. I could have been a vegetable.” Vargas says it helps if people try to be more understanding and compassionate toward someone with a disability, understanding that a disabled person may be unable to do things that others take for granted. The more understanding people are, the better a disabled person’s life will be, he explains. “I credit moving to Houston to really opening my eyes to a whole new world, actually,” he says. “I saw that Houston doesn’t have sidewalks everywhere like they do in El Paso. That created so much anxiety and anger within me that I was like, ‘How the heck does Houston not have sidewalks? That’s ridiculous.’ It’s an issue of safety for me. People need to shift their
perspective. Live in our shoes.” Something as routine as going to a store or business becomes an issue for Vargas when proper accommodations aren’t made. “It gets frustrating to me, and I want people to realize so much more could be done,” he says. “It’s something that I had to learn to figure out. For example, there was a Montrose store I wanted to go into, but the entrance of it had a step, and that’s the only way to get in. I was by myself, meaning there’s no way I could get in, so I was screwed from experiencing that store. I also remember vividly a bar-and-grill place I went to, and all they had were high tables. I ended up leaving because there was no way I could eat there because the tables were super-high. There was no accommodation, no accessibility.” Vargas says he hopes the disabled community can have a seat at the table and be more involved in business plans, residential
construction ideas, and event planning. “One thing that I would love to see happen is businesses and stores having someone who was born with a disability be on the organizing or planning committee, because only we can tell you what will and won’t work. We just need to talk to each other to create a dialog. We need better communication, be more upfront and honest.” It’s this very reason why Vargas became involved with The Woodlands Pride Festival. “I was part of the planning committee, and I took it upon myself to take charge,” he says. “I was involved in everything having to do with the disabled guests attending the event. I really made it more accessible and more inclusive. I made my voice heard, and said, ‘This is the way it’s got to be.’ I am so grateful I had the support of the entire team. It was refreshing to have a committee be so open and willing to listen.” Vargas says he has seen change and improvements over the course of his lifetime that have made his life better, but so much more work can be done. “The community isn’t asking for much,” he says. “We want what everybody else wants: to be treated equally. I believe more can be done by non-disabled individuals.
A Trusted Name Backed By Unrivaled Experience
Simental-Vargas arriving at Minute Maid Park for Lady Gaga concert in 2022.
“DISABILITY DOESN’T STRIP US OF OUR RIGHT TO A NORMAL LIFE. BEING HEARD AND UNDERSTOOD IS CRUCIAL FOR US; WE SEEK THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AS EVERYONE ELSE.” —Chris Simental-Vargas
Again, the key is listening to those who have a disability, because even though sometimes it might seem like we’re asking for too much, we really aren’t.” Vargas has also seen struggles in the gay dating scene, with his disability being the reason some men won’t talk to him. “Something I hear a lot in the dating world is, ‘We don’t want to become a caretaker,’” he says. “The reality is I’m not asking someone to be my caretaker. I’m asking you to be my life partner. That’s the mindset and mentality that I feel most of the community has right now.” Ever-positive, however, Chris will continue to be an advocate for his community, while also focusing on his career and creative side. “I’m very artistic,” he says. “My idea would be to go into graphic design using vinyl. I started freelancing it in El Paso. That’s something that excites me. I want to explore more of who I am and what I love to do. I’m also going to be getting involved with a job-training initiative. It’s a program where I will get some help in finding a real working job. Because at the end of the day, I’m trying to live my life, just like everyone else.” Keep up with Chris Simental-Vargas on Facebook at tinyurl.com/Simental-Vargas, and on Instagram at @_truthfullytopher
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HOLIDAY CHEER
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A Rainbow of Literary Choices Book ‘em this season with these LGBTQ delights. By GREGG SHAPIRO 1. There’s no time like the “present” to introduce your loved ones to the extraordinary fiction works of gay writer Andrew Holleran. Fortunately, Holleran’s first three novels—the critically acclaimed Dancer from the Dance (1978), Nights in Aruba (1983), and The Beauty of Men (1996)—have all been reissued in new paperback editions. As a bonus, to mark the 45th anniversary of the publication of Dancer from the Dance, the book includes a new introduction by Garth Greenwell. 2. Weighing in at more than 970 pages, with 20 pages of color and black-and-white photos, My Name Is Barbra (Viking, 2023) by Barbra Streisand is the memoir that virtually every LGBTQ person on the planet has been awaiting. Told in her own words, and available as an audiobook read by Streisand (and clocking in at 48 hours!), the grandest diva of all (and mother of gay son Jason Gould) doesn’t hold back (wait until you read what she has to say about Funny Lady), and no one would expect that from her. 3. Bloomsbury and Duke University Press each have a book series about pop music. For Duke’s
“Singles” series (subtitled One Song, One Book, One of a Kind) music columnist and podcaster Chris Molanphy delves into “Old Town Road” (Duke, 2023), the mega-selling hit song performed by young, queer superstar Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus. Michael Dango takes an in-depth dive into Madonna’s 1992 album “Erotica” (Bloomsbury, 2023) for the acclaimed and long-running 33⅓ series (Erotica is the 176th book in the series). 4. One more music-oriented book worth mentioning is The Green Witch’s Guide to Magical Plants & Flowers (Skyhorse Publishing, 2023) by Chris Young and Susan Ottaviano. If Ottaviano’s name sounds familiar, perhaps it’s because she was the female lead vocalist in the popular ‘80s synth-pop band Book of Love (remember “Boy,” “I Touch Roses,” and Modigliani”?). Additionally, Deborah Harry (of Blondie fame) wrote the foreword to this fabulously illustrated book in which two Green Witches “unlock the secrets hiding in your garden” for herbal infusions, sachets, tinctures, and more. 5. The new 2023 edition of Justine Picardie’s
Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life (Dey Street, 2010) tells the story of the illustrious fashion designer from her 1883 birth as Gabrielle “in the poorhouse in Saumur, a market town on the River Loire” to her death at age 87 in January, 1971. The book includes an abundance of sketches, as well as photos, including one of Jackie Kennedy in the pink Chanel suit she wore on November 22, 1963. 6. Every bit the labor of love that the Streisand memoir is, Getting In: NYC Club Flyers from the Gay 1990s (Daken Press, 2023) by journalist and clubgoer David Kennerley is the must-have coffee-table book of the holiday season. Following the foreword by Michael Musto and the introduction by HX Magazine co-founder and club promoter Matthew Bank, we are swept back a couple of decades to the mayhem of the gay club circuit of the 1990s, vividly and colorfully illustrated through flyers used to promote the incredible party scene. Even if you never made it past the bouncer, this book makes you feel like you were there. You can almost smell the hair gel, sweat, and poppers. OutSmartMagazine.com
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HOUSTON’S NEW FACES OF PRIDE KICK-OFF CELEBRATION NOVEMBER 9, 2023
Houston’s New Faces of Pride made their official debut at the newly-reopened Rich’s Houston. The evening featured performances by Blackberri, and attendees got a chance to meet members of the new organization’s board and volunteers. Houston’s New Faces of Pride
Out▼ There
founder and president, Bryan Cotton, revealed the group’s Pride theme for 2024: “Rainbow Revolution.” He also announced the organization’s inaugural beneficiary nonprofits Tony’s Place and Grace Place—both of which focus on providing vital services to Houston’s LGBTQ youth. OutSmartMagazine.com
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ALLIES IN HOPE PRESENTS HOPE FOR HOUSTON BALL 2023 NOVEMBER 3, 2023
Allies In Hope presented their first-ever Hope for Houston Ball at White Oak Music Hall. Guests were encouraged to wear “pops of purple” as they socialized and bid on silent and live auc-
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Practice 4: Speaking of Alcohol, Pay Close Attention! Given the increased stress that people experience during the holidays, it’s important to remember that alcohol can substantially increase depression in addition to disrupting sleep quality. There can also be an impact of alcohol on cognition, memory, thinking, and planning. Finally, it’s important to encourage guests to get home safely by using designated drivers or rideshare apps. If you’re planning on drinking at all, just get an Uber or Lyft. It’s easier and safer that way. Practice 5: Acknowledge and Manage Loss Sometimes, the holiday season serves as a reminder of the people and things we have lost. As we review the year, we think about family members and friends who may have passed on. We might also think about lost jobs, relationships, or opportunities. Acknowledging that a sense of grief can dim and color our experience of the holidays is one way of preparing ourselves to better manage these feelings. If you know someone who has lost a friend or loved one this year, don’t be afraid to reach out to them, if only to simply ask how they are doing and how you can help. If you have lost someone special, consider their traditions that you feel like keeping and allow yourself the space to both grieve and celebrate the person for what they meant to you. Holiday Self Care Within Reach A focus on self-care through the holidays can help to buoy your mind and spirit. Pause to reflect on the positive things that have happened this past year. Maybe there was a conversation that stuck with you because it was meaningful and you felt a moment of connection—or you had a moment of success in a relationship, at work, or in the community. Even though it may feel small, those moments can help to create a more objective and realistic picture of the past year, its successes, and its opportunities. Daryl Shorter, MD, is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is board certified in both general and addiction psychiatry. His clinical practice focuses on veteran care, and he lectures widely on LGBTQ mental health. Dr. Shorter can be reached at dr.darylshorter@gmail.com. OutSmartMagazine.com
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TRANSTASTIC ART SHOW FUNDRAISER NOVEMBER 10, 2023 Frost Town Brewing was the venue for Transtastic Art Show, a fundraiser for three local trans-led organizations: Trans Legal Aid Clinic of Texas, Triple A Alliance, and Trans Men Empowerment. Dozens of donated works of art were sold, raising over $2000 for the organizations.
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WEDDING GUIDE
Love Against the Odds Amanda Nicole Smith and Valerie Leigh Smith’s unconventional path to a perfect wedding. By JENNY BLOCK Photos by SHANNON FULLBRIGHT
Amanda Nicole Smith (l) and Valerie Leigh Smith
Thirty-nine-year-old Amanda Nicole Smith says she’d always wanted to be a wife, but after her divorce, she was leery of even talking about marriage again. Then, in 2017, a mutual friend connected her, through Facebook, to Valerie Leigh Smith, a woman just six years younger than she, who was also suffering through an unhappy and unhealthy marriage. Both were on the verge of leaving their marriages. Neither was looking to start something new. They had been chatting occasionally 60
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via social media for several months, when Amanda found herself lying in bed one night thinking about Valerie. She reached out again on Facebook, and the two began talking daily. “I finally decided that I would go visit her,” Amanda says. “I went to see her in Fort Worth, and from there that was it!” The two dated long distance for almost three years, attempting to keep it casual. “But it just didn’t work out. We had already fallen for each other and knew we wanted to be together. It really has been one of those whirlwind, fairy-tale romance stories that sounds way too good to be true.”
Having finally yielded to their true feelings, Valerie moved to be with Amanda and her children. Valerie says that Amanda came into her life when she herself didn’t realize how much she needed her. “Going through a rough first marriage,” Valerie says, “I always told myself I would never find someone who could treat me the way I deserve to be treated. Well, I was wrong. Amanda walked into my life and showed me how to be loved, cared for, and taken care of like a woman should be. She has opened my eyes to so much, and I am so incredibly grateful for her.”
Both women feel as if they have won the love lottery. Amanda says that Valerie is beyond anything she could have ever imagined. “I knew I wanted to be a wife and a mom,” explains Amanda, “but after my first marriage I was just burned. Val came along and was just always there—for me, for us—no ulterior motive. She just wants us to know she loves us, and she shows us every single day in so many ways.” Amanda is a special education paraprofessional from Mont Belvieu, Texas. Valerie, a Fort Worth native, is a project manager for a sign company. The two currently live in Northeast Houston. For her proposal, Amanda planned a private tour to the top of the Pensacola lighthouse in July. “We climbed 177 steps to the top of the lighthouse,” Amanda says. “It was absolutely gorgeous.” Amanda had already discussed the plan with the lighthouse keeper and had given him her phone so he could capture the moment. “I took the ring out of my pocket and told her I had a question,” says Amanda. But Valerie reached into her pocket at that very moment and took out a ring as well. “I have a question, too,” Valerie had said. The couple knew from the start that they wanted to get married on the beach. They chose Navarre Beach in Destin, Florida. “We didn’t want a huge wedding, so we only invited our closest friends and family.”
Their small group of wedding guests helped them set up the reception and the couple were thrilled with the results. “It looked beautiful,” Amanda says. “We planned and put everything together ourselves, and I was really proud of how it all turned out.” The two were wed October 21, 2023. Valerie’s sister Samantha officiated. “We actually discussed her doing this years before and had her ordained on the internet. We knew we wanted her to be part of our day,” Amanda says. And just as one would hope, their story-
book romance led to a fairy-tale wedding day. “We had a short and sweet ceremony and a fun little reception afterwards in Fort Walton.” They wanted to add a special touch to show their LGBTQ community pride, so they included a rainbow smoke bomb exit. “Our entire day was absolutely perfect,” Amanda said. “Everything went amazingly well. We had tons of help and genuinely good and loving people surrounding us.”
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SIGN OUT By LILLY RODDY
A Mercury Retrograde for the Winter Solstice ADRIAN HERNANDEZ
Capricorn’s Reign Begins.
The important news this month is Mercury going retrograde from December 8 through January 9, and that includes the shadow period. Mercury will have the strongest impact on Capricorns and Sagittarians. Overall, make your holiday plans early and have plans B and C ready! Mercury retrograde can create delays, especially with travel, deliveries, and mail. We should avoid
ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)
As usual this time of year, you are in a good mood, ready to enjoy the holidays. This is a playful and creative time, a very good time to reconnect with friends, to work on your social media presentation, and to continue to explore ways to enlarge your resource base. You are looking for ways to use your unique talents and connect more to your passion. You will want to keep your holiday plans manageable. Your career area is more active toward the end of the month. Though you are still considering major changes, it’s best to wait until after January 9 before putting those plans into action.
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20)
This month you are getting more intimate with your partner or someone very close to you. You are looking for more trust and the ability to be less reserved. You continue in a positive time for life opportunities through the end of April next year. You are looking for different career prospects, and there can be changes in the works that may make you want to strike out on a different path. In the latter half of the month, you are more ready to sit back and enjoy the holidays. Relationships continue to be positive in both your business and personal life. You may also be taking more of a leadership role in your community or in your business. This will ultimately help you in your career.
GEMINI (May 21–June 21)
Relationships are the big topic this month. With Mercury retrograding in your relationship sector, you will be rethinking partnerships. You may be hearing from 64
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buying electronic equipment, signing documents, and surgery. The Sun enters Capricorn on the 21st, the first day of Capricorn and the beginning of the Winter Solstice. The holidays always make December busy. Good days this month are December 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 18, 24, 25, and 29. Difficult days fall on the 3rd, 13th, 27th, and 28th. Be prepared to put your New Year’s resolutions into play after January 9, 2024.
friends and lovers from your past. In good relationships, this is a time to revive those energies. In difficult partnerships, this is a time to deal with the problems before you can move forward. People generally may feel more aggressive or selfish, and your tolerance will be very low. When you are shopping, make sure you pay attention to your surroundings. Your career drive is being reactivated. You are looking for a leadership role, possibly starting something on your own, or if you are older, you are looking to cut back on your work schedule. In the latter part of the month, you are focusing on improving your finances and debt.
CANCER (June 22–July 22)
This time of the year, you are examining your work routines, paying more attention to your health, and generally getting your home and workspace in order. You are ready to take charge and won’t tolerate coworkers’ bad attitudes. Work boundaries are especially important this month. You do have other interests, and if you don’t create the time and space for them, you won’t do them! Mercury retrograde in your relationship sector can mean connecting with people from the past and resolving past difficulties. In positive partnerships, this is a time to reconnect; in difficult relationships, this is a time to face the music!
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)
The holidays are usually a fun and playful time for you. You are ready to be creative, connect with family, and enjoy your children. This is a good time to take a hobby and turn it into something more significant. You are better at doing things you like and connecting to activi-
ties that give life meaning. Career activity remains strong and positive, and there are big changes coming. If you are older, you may be looking to cut back and have more home/work balance in your life. On a personal level, you are reviewing the way you function in your relationships and moving toward being more direct. This can be a real test for all your partnerships, friendships, and work relationships. Take the lead and make your relationships better and more responsive.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept.22)
This time of the year, your home and family sector are always active, and this month there is even more than usual. Your home could be the activity central location for the holidays. You are also working on making your home a more comfortable place by addressing any problems. Your ruler, Mercury, will be retrograde by the 8th. This is the time for you to give attention to past clutter and communication problems, as you connect with people from your past. In the latter part of the month, you are more creative and want to engage in more fun activities rather than the same old things. You are taking a hard look at yourself this year! You are working on having better boundaries and focusing your energy on making your efforts a success.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 23)
You are in a good mood at this time of the year. You are running errands, juggling all kinds of activity, and sharing your ideas and views with those around you. You may not have much of a filter this month.
Watch your driving, as you will be impatient with the traffic and you may act more rashly. In the latter part of the month, you are ready to make your home more comfortable. You may be doing home repairs or stepping into a leadership role in the family. Health continues to be an important focal point. This is a great month to improve your health with better eating and exercise. You are also developing better boundaries with your work responsibilities and your coworkers.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24–Nov. 21)
Finances, personal resources, acquired debt, and self-worth are all important topics this month. You are more impulsive with spending this year during the holidays. You have generally been conservative with spending and intend to continue that pattern. You are just wanting more freedom on that front. Relationship energies are still positive, even if you are single. The potential for meeting someone new is still strong through May of 2024. In the latter part of the month, you are wanting to manage your daily activities better. You will want some structure there. This can be a better time for writing, improving your social-media presence, and having clear communications with your siblings.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov.22–Dec.21)
This is your personal yearly cycle when you review what you did this past year and make new plans.
With Mercury retrograde in your sign, you will take an even deeper dive on reviewing your past. It will be better to wait until after January 9 before you put any of your ideas into play. You are very energized this month as Mars, planet of action, self-protection, anger, and intuitive response, travels through your sign. You will have a lot of extra energy, and you will need some outlet for this! This can be a great time to restart an exercise program, reconsider starting your own business, or doing what you like instead of what is expected. You will not be very patient, and it may be harder to sleep. Look for positive ways to use this extra energy.
to be around people, and you’re generally more social. This can be a great time to reconnect with friends from the past, especially with Mercury retrograde in your sign. In a work scenario, this is a good time to step up and take a leadership role in your career. You have been and continue to be looking for something that really connects to your passion. You continue to let go of the past and clean out unnecessary remnants. There are some big shifts in your family and a change in the family hierarchy. At the end of the month, you are ready for some down time. You need some time to regroup!
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)
With Mercury retrograde in your career sector, you are thinking about your future this month. If you are unhappy, it will really begin to show. On the other hand, if you are happy, you may be looking to take on a management role or even start your own business. You are working on personal goals, relationship boundaries, and not just saying “yes” to people asking for help. This is a great time to improve your health by committing to a regimen. You can also be harsh in your judgment of yourself if you haven’t achieved your goals. Take care to be kind to yourself. In the latter part of the month, you are connecting with old friends and enjoying more social activity. Put your New Year’s resolutions into action after January 9.
As the month opens, you are in a time of rest and retreat. You are more sensitive at this time of the year and may need more personal time, despite holiday expectations. Choose your company very carefully in the earlier part of the month. After the Sun enters Capricorn on the 21st, you will be more in sync with the holidays. Mercury will be retrograde in your sign, which will trigger rethinking a lot of life. This is a good time to organize your files, clean out the pantry, take care of projects you have been avoiding, and connect with people from your past. Toward the end of the month, you will feel more in control and can manage your time better.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)
Friends, family, and colleagues are all more active during this holiday season. You may have more energy
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)
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WIGGING OUT
The Painted Lady Lucy Paradisco lives the champagne life. By SAM BYRD | Photo by ALEX ROSA Where might we see some of your designs? I make 99% of the things I wear. Also, RuPaul’s Drag Race girls and queens all over the states, especially the pageant scene.
Straight off the plane from the West Coast, Lucy Paradisco brings the youth, funk, and a whole lot of spunk to Houston’s drag scene. Known for her stunning makeup, killer costumes, and the everyso-often cartwheel, this vixen is mixing things up on the mainstage. Ain’t no Ethel here—this Lucy is primed and ready for the spotlight. Read on for more about this modern-day muse.
Most memorable moment as a performer? In 2015, before I was good at sewing, the whole crotch busted out of my costume in front of a large crowd, and everyone laughed—including myself.
Pronouns? He, him, they, them, she, her, girl, and, of course, bitch.
Ultimate goal as a performer? To spread joy and inspiration to our youth and fellow community, showing it’s okay to be who you are.
Inner Avatar? Theia Hometown? Seattle
Thoughts about attempted legislation regarding drag performances? Anything can be a problem if you decide to make it one, but drag is not a crime. Discriminating against drag should be a crime.
Drag birthday? October 30, 2013 What got you interested in drag? Feminine illusion
What do you do in your downtime? Sew commission work and learn new sewing techniques. Boring, right?
Describe your performing persona. Sexy, fun, drama, energetic, and all-out crazy. What’s on your bucket list? Shopping for textiles in every country, having a profitable business, performing worldwide, and high-fiving Madonna.
What would people be surprised to know about you? I can take apart almost anything and reassemble it with little to no effort! Also, I’m a “plant gay.”
Story behind your name? Lucy is a spin-off of my given name, Luke, by changing the K to a C and the E to a Y. Simple and sweet. Also, watching I Love Lucy every day in the morning before school didn’t help.
Since this is the season of giving, do you have any nonprofits you enjoy supporting? Montrose Center, PFLAG, and Open Gate.
How did you learn makeup skills? Setting aside Wednesdays to dedicate to makeup practice and producing looks via livestream! I did that for the first three years of doing drag till I could paint the house down.
Where can fans see you perform? Barcode on Fridays and Saturdays every week. I’m also booked during the rest of the week at other clubs in Montrose and College Station.
Describe your aesthetic. I would say it’s high fashion meets modern styling, with a touch of space blonde bimbo stoner whore!
What’s your life’s mantra? To be honest and not to sugarcoat problems. Be honest, be kind, and help anyone who seeks it within reason.
How about your sewing talents? I’m self-taught, and dedicated my hands to a life of creating fashion and costumes. I have a large workspace with industrial sewing equipment for quality garments.
If you could pick one celebrity (living or dead) to perform with you, who would it be and why? Marilyn Monroe, so we could be the blonde bombshell duo.
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Follow Lucy on Instagram @lucy_paradisco, on Facebook at Lucy Paradisco, and on tiktok @lucyparadisco.
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